Mattress tufting apparatus



Dec. 4, 1934. J. F. GAIL MATTRESS TUFTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 3, 1932'7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 4, 1934. J F. GAIL MATTRESS TUFTING APPARATUSFiled Feb. 3, 1932 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 4, 1934. J GAlL 1,983,169

MATTRES S TUFTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 4,-1934. J. F. GAIL MATTRESS TUFTING' APPARATUS Filed Feb. 3, 1932 '7'Sheets-Sheet 6 pm M M Dec. 4, 1934. F, GAIL I MATTRESS TUFTING APPARATUSFiled Feb. 5, 1932 7 Sheets-Shet v V Fig, 4 ina changed position.

Patented Dec. 4, 1934 H 3 169 mmmssmmmc arrana'rcs 1 1m F- Ga Ev ns n 1'-aS$i 9 fl 9 m 9 Company yN ew York, N. a corporation of i Delaware 7Arn icatio iebruary 3,

cases a 5 64 r y l ms: 31- 5- 138 This invention relates to {mattresstufting apparatusjand more particularly to apparatus for handlingmattresses to facilitate manual tufting thereof. v

5 "The main objects of the invention are: To provide apparatus forhandling mattresses to facilitate tufting thereof; to provide suchapparatus which is particularly suited, but not re-- stricted, to use inconnection with manual mat- 1g tresstufting; to provide' means forinsuring accurate positioning and spacing of the tufts; to

i provide comparatively simple but efficient apparatus-ofthetypereferredto; and, in general,

it may be said that-the objectof the invention 15 isto provide apparatus"for handling and preparing mattresses for tuftingpurposes.

Otherobjects;andadvantages of the invention willhe understoodbyreference to thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings(seven g sheets), wherein apparatusof the typereferredtoisj-illustrated.

Inthedrawings: i yFigs. andlA are plans of theleft and right handportions, respectively, of the apparatus. 2 is a section onthe line 2 2of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is ,9; side elevation of that portion of the mechanismillustrated Fig. 1. Fig; 4 is a side elevationonan enlarged scale of aportion of the mechanism shown inFig. 3. flFigxfi isa fragrnentary -viewof a portion of is a section onnthe lined-6 of Fig. Figfi {'Iis asection on the line 7-;7 otFig. 3. Fig. Sisa detail of a lockingdevice.rig. 9 aside elevation of the-mechanism Shown in lij'igr'i'. j

Fig; 10 is a section illustrating a detailof construction of themattress-compressing mechamsm.

Fig, 11 is a plan of the mattress-compressing mechanism i y Figilzis asection on theline 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Fig; 13illustrates a detailof construction.

5Figx14 is aside elevation of a mattress carj i i' ss." 15; and 16erase-assists t e lines 15-15 handheld-+ .6. respect v y, of Fia 4.

.Bef ins 11.0w toithc d ab. asteland mor par ticularly to Figures 1 and.1A,? the general ar-- .50 r nsement .of.appa atu h inlcoacerned ml rbe 5des ted-2 1% anent rety are Pm id Q iP Q- pellingrth'e mattresscarriersaround the trackZO, and mattressscompressing means 23 are providedforfacilitating.thecompression of mattresses in therespective carriersso as to facilitate tufting thereof, as will be hereinafter explained.

The carriers 21 are so constructed that the mattress is carried aroundthe track in a vertical- 1y disposed position; and the tufting thereofis effected while the mattresses are so disposed. The carriers are soarranged that they may be swung to horizontal position to facilitate theremoval' of a completed mattress by sliding the samehorizontally to areceiving table and so as to facilitate insertion of ran untuftedmattress into the empty carrierby similarly sliding the untuftedmattress from the table into the carrier. The carrieris adjustable sothat the mattress may be compressed between it by the compressingdevices 23,. after which the carrier is again restored to" verticalposition for the tufting operation. The details of the structureillustrated will now be explained. l r

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 14,it will be seen that each ofthemattresscarriers 21 includes an outer frame 25 which is convenientlyformedlof'angle iron, this frame being generally rectangularin shape; Atits upper corners, the outer; frame-251$ providedwith upwardly extendingsuspension arms 26-which are provided with anti fr-iction rolls 27; .As'clearly shown in Fig. 2, each'of the suspension members 26 is bifurcatedat its upper end and each arm of the bifurcation is providedwith a roll27 respectively engaging the opposite sidesof the r-beam track 20. Anysuitable'provision may be made for adjustably connecting the suspensionmembers 26 to the respective framesisoithat the height of the frames maybe adjusted, and so that the frames may be addusted to a suitably levelcondition. Either one or both 'of, the suspension members 26 ofeachframe is connectedto an endless chain 28 'so'that the mattresscarriers are thus interconnected for movement. in unison around thetrack 20.

1 -For propelling the mattress carriers, I provide drivingwmechanismwhich includes a suitable source .offlpower, such as an electric motor29, which is connected by means of a belt 30 to one endofa Reevesvariable speed drive 31, the outend of which connected bymeans of a beltorchain 32 to worm and worm wheel driving mechanism 3.3 whereby avertical shaft 34 is continuously rotated. The shaft 34 is mounted forrotation a bearing 35v which is carried by suitablel lframework 36, anda sprocket 3'7 is secured .to thellower end of theshaft, as shown inFig. 2.

A studded chain or belt 38 extends. around the sprocket 37 and around anassociated sprocket 39, and the sprocket 38 is so disposed relative tothe chain 28 that the studs of the chain 38 will mesh with the chain 28and thereby impart movement to the latter. The sprocket 39 is soarranged relative to the chain 28 that the driving chain 38 is graduallywithdrawn from its driving engagement with the chain 28, as clearlyshown in Figure 1.

An adjustable mattress holding or clamping frame is mounted within theouter frame 25 and includes front and. back frame members 40 and 41,respectively, which are adjustably connected by means of elongatedbolts, such as indicated at 42. Each frame 40 and 41 consists of anouter angle iron frame, as will be readily understood from inspection ofFig. 14, together with a plurality of angle iron members 43 which extendbetween the opposite sides of the frame; as clearly shown in Fig. 14.The back frame 41 includes a wall member 44 formedof wood or sheetmetal, this wall member being secured to the frame at suitably spacedpoints by suitable means such as bolts, as indicated at 45 in Fig. 16.The front frame member 40 is provided with a pair of angle iron guidemembers, such as 46, these members being located on the inside of theframe and serving a purpose which will presently appear. The front andback frames 40 and 41 are mounted in the outer frame 25 by means ofpivot connections such as indicated at 47, so that the front and rearframes 40 and 41 may be swung as a unit about the horizontal axis of thepivots 47, 47 which are, of course, in axial alignment. The pivots 47are connected to the rear frame member 41 through the agency of abracket 48 which is rigidly secured to the rear frame and projectsforwardly so that the front and rear frames 40 and 41, when in theiroperative position, are approximately balanced in the frame 25.

The mattress 48 is adapted to be compressed between the front and rearframes 40 and 41, a wall or tray member 49 being associated With thefront frame 40 to cooperate with the wall member 44 of the rear frame tocompress the mattress. The member 49 is not secured to the front frame40, but is adapted to be slid into and out of operative relation theretoon and between the guides 46, 46, the opposite ends of the tray 49 beingreinforced with a metal cleat or the like, indicated at 50. For holdingthe front-and rear frames 40 and 41 in operative relation, i. e., with amattress compressed therebetweem; a plurality of hooks, such asindicated at 51 in Figures 4, 6 and 14, are provided. Each hook 51 is inthe form of an elongated bar hingedly connected, as indicated at 52, tothe front frame member 40, and. provided at the other end with a'hook 53which is adapted to hook over the edge of the frame member 41. A leafspring 54 is secured at one end to the hook 51 and arranged so that itsfree end tends to spring away from the face of the hook. As shown inFig. 6, the free end of the spring 54 fits between the frame member 41and the hook 51 so that it tends to swing the hook 51 out of latchingengagement with the frame 41. It will, of course, be understood that theexpansive pressure of a mattress compressed between the frames 40 and 41is ample to cause sufficient frictional contact between the hook 53 andframe 41 to prevent unlatching of the hook under normal conditions.

Assuming that'each of the mattress carriers is filled with a mattress,as is the condition during normal operation of the apparatus, and that amattress has been completely tufted and should be removed from thecarrier in which it is disposed, such carrier is caused to swing on itspivots 47 to a horizontal position, as indicated at A in Fig. 3. Themechanism for causing the carrier to assume such horizontal positionincludes a latch-disengaging member 55 having a cam-like end portion 56for engagement with the projecting end 57 of a pivoted latch member 58.The latch member 58 is best shown in Fig. 8, and its relation to thedisengaging or trip member 55, 56 is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Asshown in Fig. 8, the latch member 58 consists of a bar pivotedintermediate its ends on a bracket 59 which projects from the outerframe 25. In its normal position, the latch 58 extends over the upperedge of the inner or rear frame member 41 and is provided with a hookelement 60 which drops in front of the front edge of the rear frame 41to hold the latter in upright position against an end portion of thebracket 59. As an incident to the travel of the frame 25 and mattresscarrier therein, the outer end portion 57 of the latch 58 passes underthe cam-like element 56 which depresses the outer end of the latch toraise the inner hook end thereof from operative engagement with theframe 41. A guide element 61 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) serves to initiatepivotal movement of the carrier, such movement being limited by a stop62 against which the inner side or upwardly swinging portion of thecarrier comes to rest, as indicated in Fig. 2. Suitable guides 63, 63are provided for maintaining the mattress carrier in its horizontalposition after it leaves the stop member 62. The members 61 and 62 mayconveniently be supported by independent supporting means, as clearlyshown in the drawings. and the members 63, 63 may conveniently besecured to suitable brackets such as 64 which depend from the framework36.

The framework 36 and the continuous track 20 is preferably supported bymeans of crossheads or beams 65 which are supported on posts 66 locatedcentrally of the opposite sides of the track 20. The posts 66 aresuitably mounted on the floor or other support by means of pedestals 67,as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Of course, if desired, the framework may besuspended from above, but the above described arrangement is practicaland economical. For preventing swaying of the mattress carriers duringtheir travel, each carrier is provided with a pair of rollers 68, 68depending from. the lower side of the outer frame member and engaging achannel track 69 which is supported by pedestals, such as 70.

The mattress carrier and mattress therein which has been turned tohorizontal position, as described above, is next propelled intoco-operative relation with compressing mechanism designated as anentirety by B. This compressing mechanism is a portable device and isadapted to move in unison with the travel of the mattress carrier forsuch a distance as may be necessary to remove a completed mattress fromthe carrier and to insert an untufted mattress therein.

The compressing mechanism B comprises a main frame which consists of apair of upwardly facing channel members '71 and 72 which are rigidlyconnected together by means of downwardly facing cross members 73 and74, respectively, which extend transverselv between the rrgocareo sidemembers'l'l and 72. The main frameis pro- "71 and '72, and these rollersare adapted to roll in angle iron tracks such as indicated at "76.. A

pneumatic piston 77. is'mounted between frame members "78, 78 which aresuitably secured to the cross members 73 and 74 and'diagonally extendingpairs of frame members 79, 80, 81 and 82,

preferably of angle iron, connecting the outer side frame membersfll and72 with the inner frame members 78, '18. As indicatedin Figure'l,

the inner ends of the diagonal framemembers rest directly on the upperflanges of the inner frame member '78, while the outer ends of suchmembers rest on bracket castings, such as indicated at 83, which aresuitably secured to the respectivesideframe members 71 and 72.

. At their outer ends, each of the pairs of diagonally extending framemembers is provided with a bracket such as indicated at 84 whichconstitutes a bearing for a pulley 85 which is rotatably mounted in thebracket, and each bracket is formed with an end portion to whichanupwardly extending angle iron frame member 86 is secured. For bracingthe upwardly extending members 86, braces such as indicated at 87 areprovided, there being one such brace extending between each of themembers of each pair of frame members '79, 80, 81 and 82, and therespective upright members 86, as clearly shown in Figure 11. Anotherpulley 88 is mounted for rotation between each pair of braces 87, asclearly shown in Figures 9 and 11. Each upwardly extending frame member86 is provided with a pair of brackets 89 and 90, respectively, whichare provided with bearing apertures for slidably receiving a bar or rod91. Each bar or rod 91 is provided with a bracket 92 rigidly securedthereto and extending inwardly therefrom. The inner ends of the brackets92 supportT-iron members 393. By inspection of Figure 7, it will be seenthat there is a T-barpat each side ofthe mechanism, and it will beunderstood that such members are adapted to be moved vertically inunison with vertical sliding movement of the rods or bars 91 in therespective bearings 89 and 90. i

For effecting such movement of the members 93, each bar 91 is providedwith a bracket such as indicated at 94 and each bracket has secured toit one end of a cable 95. The cable 95 extends from the bracket 94upwardly around the pulley 88 and downwardly around the pulley 85,- oneof which is associated with each frame member 86.

From the pulley 85,each cable 95 extendsrinwardly intermediate themembers of each diagonally extending pair (see Figure 11) and the innerends of the cables pass around pulleys such as indicated at 96. Theinner ends of the cables are connected as indicatedat 9''! to the outerend of the piston rod 98 of the pneumatic cylinder 7'7.

The cylinder 77 is controlled by means of a two way valve 99 whichcontrols the admission and exhaust of air or other fluid from theopposite ends of the cylinder 77, whereby the piston rod 98 is caused totravel in opposite directions to thereby impart movement to the cables95 and therethrough to the bars 91 and compressor members 93 carriedthereby.

Associated with each compressor member 93 is a complementary compressormember 1 00, each compressor member 100 being fii iedly secured to theouter end of the brackets 89, as clearly shown in Figure-l0. i

As indicated in Figure 3, the. compressor 1118111?- bers6100 and 93 areso arranged when in open position that the horizontally disposedmattresscarrierframes and. 41 maybe propelled into the space between saidcompressormembers. By apto follow the compressor member 93 to thelowcredposition indicated in broken lines in Figure '7. When themattress carrier frame 40 is thus lowered, the. mattress may be freelyremoved from the carrier bybeing-drawn edgewise on to a supportingrack.The supporting rack just referred to preferably comprises a plurality ofhorizontally disposed angle iron members 101, the inner ends of whichare secured to longitudinally extending bars 102 which are supported bymeans ofbrackets 103 on the brace frames 87,. 87, as clearly shown inFigure 9. The outerends of the horizontal bars 101 are supported bydiagonally extending brackets 104gwhich are connected at their lowerends to the lower frame member 71, as indicated in Figurezl2, the upperends of the brackets 104 being suitably secured to said bars 191. Thebars 101 are provided with a series of rollers 105 on which the.supporting tray 49; and mattress thereon are adaptedto be rolled free ofthe carriers 40 and 41. Suitable stops, such-as indicated at 106, areprovided for limiting outward movement of the tray 49. The stopspreferably include a cushion bumper 107 for preventing injury to theedge of the tray.

When the tray 49 and mattress thereon have been removed from the carrierframes to a position on the supoprting rack, the completed matti es isremovedby hand or otherwise and an uncom'pleted, i. e., untufted,mattress is substituted. The untufted mattress then on the tray is slidintothe space between the separated mattress carrier frames "40 and 41,and the valve 99 is operated to again elevate the compressor members93.The compressor members 93 are caused to restore the lower carrier frame40 to normal operative position relative to the carrier frame 41 inwhich a mattress is compressed therebetween. While the lower compressormembers 93 main- For facilitating the restoration of the hooks 51 tooperative position, the following means is provided; A shaftlOB isassociated with each of the compressor members 93 by being rotatablymounted in brackets 109 which are secured to the respective compressormembers.

Each shaft carries a plurality of hook-restoring devices 110 which aresecured to the shaft for rotation therewith by means of brackets 111.The outer end of each restoring member 110 is provided'with a pusher 112which is adapted to engage the adjacent hook 51 when the shaft 108 isturned in a direction toswing the restoring member 11 0 upwardly. Forimparting proper rotary movement to the shafts 108, a hand lever 113 ispivoted intermediate its ends on one of the upwardly extending framemembers 86 (see Figure 7), and one end of the lever is connected bymeans of a rod 114 to a lever 115 which is secured to the adjacent shaft108. When the outer end of the hand lever 113 is lifted, theinner endis, of course, moved downwardly with the result that the lever 115 isswung downwardly to thereby rock the shaft 108 in such a direction thatthe hook-restoring members 110 carried thereby are swung upwardly intohook-restoring position, as illustrated in Figure 6. Downward movementof the outer end of the lever 113 operates through a spring 116surrounding the rod 114 to effect reverse movement of the hook-restoringmembers 110. For similarly operating the hook members of the remote sideof the mechanism, a link 117 is connected between the hand lever 113 andthe bell crank :118, which is pivoted as shown in Figure 7 to the lowerend of the adjacent frame element 86. An adjustable link 119 connectsthe bell crank 118 with an arm 120, which is secured to one end of ashaft 123, the latter being rotatably mounted in suitable brackets 124,124, which extend upwardly from the frame member 72. At the opposite endof the rod 123, there is an arm 121 ;which is connected by a link 121 toan arm 122 which, like the hand lever 113, is pivoted on an adjacentframe member 86. The arm 122 is connected to the adjacent shaft 108 bymeans of connections 114, 115 and 116 between the hand lever 113 and itsadjacent shaft 108. It will be seen that the described connectionsbetween the hand lever 113 and the respective shafts 108 are such thatthe shafts are caused to rotate simultaneously in opposite directions sothat the hook-restoring devices on each shaft are simultaneously causedto swing either in upward, hook-restoring iposition or downwardly awayfrom the restored hooks. Turning of the hook restorers 110 is effectedagainst the tension of a coil spring 145 (Figs. 11 and 13). This springis connected at one end to the compressor member 93 as indicated at 146and extends around a pulley 147 mounted on the shaft 108 and is anchoredat its other end to said pulley as shown at 148. The

spring 145 tends to return the restoring members 110 to normal positionwhen the hand lever'113 is released.

Inasmuch as the mattress carriers are continuously propelled by themeans above described, it is, of course, important that the portablecompressing mechanism be caused to travel in unison with the carriersduring the operation of removing and inserting mattresses relative toeach carrier. To insure such unitary movement, the fixed compressormember 100 is provided with a bracket 125 rigidly secured theretoadjacent one end, and a stop member 126 is mounted in the bracket 125for pivotal movement on a pivot pin 127. A locking lever 128, pivoted asindicated at 129 on the bracket 125, is provided with a hooked end 130which is adapted to engage a lug 131 constituting part of the pivotedstop member 126 to hold the latter in downwardly projecting position, asshown in Figure 4. Any suitable form of spring (not shown) may beprovided for normally urging the latch member 128 into operativerelation relative to the stop member 126. As will be understood from aninspection of Figure 4, the forward end of the upper mattress-carryingframe 41 is adapted to engage the depending stop member 126 with theresult that the compressor mechanism will be propelled in unison withthe mattress carrier. When the operation of changing mattresses has beencompleted, an attendant merely depresses the outer end of the latchlever 128 with the result that the pivoted stop member 126 is permittedto swing upwardly and ride over the mattress carrier frame 41, asindicated in Figure 5.

The speed of travel of the mattress carriers is not great, and it willbe understood that workmen accustomed to changing mattresses in theabove described mechanism are easily able to effect such changing inconsiderably less time than is required for the mattress to travel thefull length of the compressor tracks 76. As soon as the operation ofcompressing the untufted mattress in a mattress carrier is completed,the compressor mechanism is shifted rearwardly relative to the directionof travel of the mattress carriers, and as soon as the newly compressedmattress is free from the compressor, it is swung to vertical position,as indicated in Figure 3. In its rearward movement, the compressor, ofcourse, receives the next completed mattress and the operation ofremoving the completed mattress and substituting an uncompleted mattressis again repeated. Any suitable form of stop, herein indicated as aspring cushion stop designated 132, may be provided for limitingrearward movement of the compressor mechanism, and an electric switch133 for controlling the driving motor 29 may be provided in the path ofmovement of the compressor mechanism for breaking the circuit to themotor and thereby stopping travel of the mattress carriers in the eventthat the operation of changing mattresses is not completed within thelimit of travel of the compressor mechanism.

One method of tufting a mattress which is compressed in the mattresscarriers above described is illustrated in Figure 15. This methodincludes the penetration of the compressed mattress by means of a hookedneedle 135. The needle 135 is provided with a handle 136 forfacilitating manipulation of the needle, and the tray 49 and the wallmember 44 are provided with registering openings, such as indicated at137 and 138, respectively, for indicating the proper location of thetufts. A workman on one side of the path of travel of the mattresscarriers inserts the hookedneedle 135 through the mattress as indicatedin Figure 15, and another workman stationed on the opposite side hangs alooped tufting cord 139 on the hooked end of the needle. A tuft 140 isinitially secured to the looped tufting cord 139. The workman handlingthe needle 135 can tell when a tuft is applied to the needle by reasonof a slight displacement of the needle effected in the operation ofapplying the tufting cord, and after a suitable interval withdraws theneedle and with it pulls the looped tufting cord through the compressedmattress. The tuft 140 is then pulled into substantially the positionindicated at 141 in Figure 15, and another tuft 142 is suitably tied tothe then projecting end of the tufting cord 139. A tuft is positioned ineach of the sets of registering openings 137 and 138, and when all ofthe tufts are in place and the mattress permitted to expand, the tuftingcords will be drawn tight and the respective tufts 140 and 142eifectively anchored in proper position on the opposite sides of themattress.

The above described method of tufting a mattress and the apparatus usedin connection there- V i i 9 withwarwsuch that; high'lyizskilled laboris not required; while, at the 'same time, enabling the, production ofmattresses of first class workmanshipjuina minimum of time and at slowcost. The apparatus mawyoffilcourse, be changed many wayszwithoutdeparting from the i spirit of the invention, the scope of which shouldbe determinedby reference to thefollowing claims, which should beconstrued as; broadly aspossible consistent with-the state of the art. IIclaim as my invention: t j" *1. In apparatus of the classdeseribed,thecombination of a mattresscarriena frame in which said carrier ismounted for 11 pivotal movement,- an overhead track,1means for movablysuspending said frametfrom saidytrack; and means for preventing lateralswaying of said'frame.

' 2. In apparatus of the'class described, amattress carrier: fornormally supporting: a mat tress in vertical position, means for movablysup,-

portingsaidicarrier;imeans for mounting said carrier in said supportingmeans for pivotal movement from said verticalposition to substantiallyhorizontal position, and means movable with said carrier and supportingmeans for locking said carrier in vertical position relative tosaidsupporting means i m i V 3. In apparatus of the class described, amattress carrier for normally supporting a mattress in verticalposition, means-for movably supporting" said carrier, means for mountingsaid carrierin said supporting means for pivotal movement fromsaidvertical position to substantially horizontal position," means forlocking said carrier in vertical position relative tosaidsupportingmeans, means for propelling said mattress carrier, and means fordisengaging said locking means and effecting adjustment of the carrierfrom vertical position to horizontal position as an incident to itstravel.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an endlesstrack, a plurality of mattress carriers, means formovably mounting saidcarriers on said track, a chain connecting said carriers for movement inunison along the track and for maintaining said carriers in relativelyfixed spaced relation, an endless belt having a plurality of studsprojecting therefrom and meshing with said chain, and means forimparting movement to said studded belt and thereby to effect movementof said chain and mattress carriers.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mattresscarrier comprising a pair of oppositely disposed mattress-receivingmembers adjustably connected together for movement towards and from eachother, means for supporting said carrierfor movement along apredetermined path, compressor mechanism independent of said mattresscarrier but located in the path of movement thereof and adapted toreceive said carrier and to adjust the members thereof towards eachother for compressing a mattress therebetween.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mattresscarrier comprising a pair I of mattress-receiving members adjustablyconnected for movement towards and from each other, a frame associatedwith said carrier, the latter being pivotally mounted in said frame forswinging movement about a substantially horizontal axis, means forsupporting said frame and the carrier mounted therein for movement alonga predetermined path, means for effecting pivotal adjustment of saidmattress carrier in the frame to horizontal position at a predeterminedpoint in the path of travel-thereof, and compressor mechanism for vreceiving and adjusting said mattress-carrier members towards each otherwhen horizontally disposed '7. In apparatus of the class described, thecombination of a mattress carriercomprising a pair of mattress-receivingmembers adjustably con:- nectedfor movement towards and from each other,a frameassociated with said carrier, the latter being pivotally; mountedin said frame for swinging movement about a substantiallyhorizontaliaxis, means for-supporting said frame and the carrier mountedthereinfor movement along a predetermined path, means for effectingpivotal adjustment of said rnattress carrier in the frame to horizontalposition at a predetermined point in the path of travel thereof, andportable compressor mechanismfor receiving and adjusting saidmattress-carrier members towards each other whenhorizontally disposed.

8; In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mattress,carrier comprising apair of mattress-receiving,members adjustablyconnected for movement towards and from each other, a frame associatedwith said carrier, the latter being pivotally mounted in said frame forswinging movement about a substantially horizontal axis, means-forsupporting said frame and the carrier mounted therein for movement alonga predetermined path, means for effecting pivotal adjustment of saidmattress carrier in the frame to horizontal position at a predeterminedpoint-in the path of travel thereof, compressor mechanism for receivingand adjusting said mattress-carrienmembers towards each other whenhorizontally disposed, and means for supporting said compressor forlimited movement in unison with the travel of the mattress carrier.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mattresscarrier comprising a pair of mattress-receiving members adjustablyconnected for movement towards and from each other, a frame associatedwith said carrier, the latter being pivotally mounted in said frame forswinging movement about a substantially horizontal axis, means forsupporting said frame and the carrier mounted therein for movement alonga predetermined path, means for effecting movement of said frame andcarrier along said path, means for effecting pivotal adjustment of saidmattress carrier in the frame to horizontal position at a predeterminedpoint in the path of travel thereof, compressor mechanism for receivingand adjusting said mattress-carrier members towards each other whenhorizontally disposed, and means for supporting said compressor forlimited movement in unison with the travel of the mattress carrier. i

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an overheadtrack, a frame portably suspended from said track, a mattress car rierpivotally mounted in said frame and normally disposed in verticalposition, said mattress carrier comprising a pair of oppositely disposedmattress-receiving members adjustaoly connectjust said carrier memberstowards each other for compressing a mattress therebetween.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an overheadtrack, a frame porta-bly suspended from said track, a mattresscarrierpivotally mounted in said frame and normally disposed in verticalposition, said mattress carrier comprising a pair of oppositely disposedmattress-receiving members adjustably connected together for movementtowards and from each other, means for effecting movement of said frameand carrier along said track, means for effecting pivotal adjustment ofsaid carrier from said normal vertical position to substantiallyhorizontal position at a predetermined point in the path of itsmovement, a compressor located adjacent the path of travel of saidcarrier when in horizontal position and adapted to receive and adjustsaid carrier members towards each other for compressing a mattresstherebetween, and means for supporting said compressor for limitedmovement along the path of travel of said mattress carrier.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of amattress carrier comprising a pair of oppositely disposed membersadjustably connected together for movement towards and from each other,latch means carried by one of said members and engaging the other fornormally locking said members in predetermined position relative to eachother for maintaining the mattress compressed therebetween, means forportably supported said mattress carrier for movement along apredetermined path, a compressor for receiving said carrier andoperative to effect adjustment of said carrier members towards eachother, first, to release said latch means to permit separation of saidmembers to permit Withdrawal of a mattress therefrom, and, subsequently,to adjust said members towards each other to compress a mattresstherebetween, and means carried by said compressor for adjusting saidlatch means to latching position.

13. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mattresscarrier, means for portably supporting said carrier, means for effectingtravel of said carrier along a predetermined path, a compressor unit forreceiving said mattress carrier and operative to effect compression-of amattress in the carrier; means for supporting said compressor formovement in unison with the movement of said carrier, and releasablemeans for locking'said carrier and compressor unit together for unitarymovement.

14. In apparatus of the :class described, the combination of a carriercomprising members adjustable towards and from each other, means forsupporting said carrier for movement through a predetermined path oftravel, and mechanism adjacent said path of travel for adjusting saidcarrier members towards each other to compress a mattress or the likedisposed between said members.

15. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mattresscarrier comprising oppositely disposed mattress receiving members, saidmembers being adjustably connected for movement towards and from eachother, means for supporting said carrier for movement through apredetermined path of travel, and mechanism independent of butassociated with said mattress receiving members for adjusting the sametowards each other to compress a mattress therebetween.

J OHNF. GAIL.

